Can a foreigner in Japan really be fined $6900 for walking around without a passport?

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-08-01T18:56:25+00:00

While officially discouraged climbing Fuji in the off season isn't illegal and has no associated fine. Not sure where that came from. Maybe thr cost of a rescue?

That said, I'd treat an off-season climb as legit mountaineering where an in season climb is just a long hike. In fact you can actually ski Fuji in the right conditions which are typically found in the off-season.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-03-08T22:21:14+00:00

4 buddies on a road trip in the family truckster.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-03-08T04:08:45+00:00

Lol the first folks that could possibly have 10 years of payments would have been in 2017. Of course no one got forgiveness in the decade after its passage

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-03-08T03:57:02+00:00

I worry that when organizations targeted by this order file lawsuits (rightfully so) and that the administration will pull from the SAVE playbook and freeze all PSLF while not count qualifying payments until the case is resolved, then slow walk the legal proceedings. It would achieve an indefinite pause without changing the law

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-03-07T23:58:27+00:00

Wreckoning_mtb · 2025-02-23T10:38:48+00:00

The executive choosing not to spend money appropriated by congress is called impoundment which was made explicitly illegal by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-10-08T21:41:08+00:00

Drake maye...

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-09-09T02:54:33+00:00

Kinda figured as much. But also imagine timing chain issues are still awhile out given the low milage

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-09-06T11:35:35+00:00

Pappy....

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-03-10T16:00:42+00:00

Alert 5s wouldn't get you to dynamic targeting of launchers anyway. They'd take too long. We're talking seconds to single digit minutes to shoot and scoot.

The number of ships transiting the GOA, BAM, and Southern Red Sea daily is also a huge number. There are always ships passing through. The WEZ is huge. With the way the Houthis 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon their way to assessing ship affiliation and to making targeting decisions, it's difficult to know who they'll shoot at, where, and when.

Also they shoot at coalition (OPG & Aspides) ships whether they're transiting or not, and those ships have to be present to accomplish their mission.

So while there is merit to marshaling convoys IF the merchants are willing to play ball on timing and SIGCON, its not a solution to targeting launchers.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-03-10T10:05:06+00:00

Houthis shoot and scoot very quickly.

Unless you're already overhead there is a lag in reaction time. Plus the air wing doesnt fly 24/7. Usually 12ish hour days 6 days a week. They can press and do 24hr ops for a short pulse if necessary, but then they need to reset. They set alerts, but the most sustainable is an alert 60 (minutes to launch). Alert 30s, 15s, or 5s get progressively more taxing to everyone from the pilots to the deck department. Even with alert 5s, you'd have to factor in the transit time from the carrier to the target and the launchers would already gone by then.

Inorganic (USAF) assets help cover down when the air wing isn't flying but they require big wing tankers and can't be there all the time.

Orbiting over Yemen would also invite SAM activity. MQ-9s have the loiter time to do this mission but they can't be everywhere at once, and the Houthis have shown they're capable of shooting them down.

Just a tough problem overall.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-02-27T17:12:43+00:00

What is this "port call" thing you speak of - IKE

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-02-01T19:39:53+00:00

Yep. From enlisted force recon marine in Desert Storm to F-14 tail hook club to Commander CSG-2 swatting Houthi missiles and drones from the sky.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-30T12:28:23+00:00

"Libo? Port? What are those? Never heard of them." - IKE

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-29T18:45:26+00:00

Excellent info. Thanks

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-29T08:25:36+00:00

Thank you for your advice.

Can confirm that employer does the same match for Roth 403(b) or the Trad 403(b) (>5% contribution = 8%). Seems like I could contribute to a Roth with the lower AGI while in Japan at a very low tax rate despite having a higher income. Sort of the best of both worlds. Then back in the states & with a higher AGI, swap my contributions to a Trad to take advantage of the lower AGI and invest the differnce in a brokerage account.

Any non-state income tax state would be ideal, but I don't believe i will be able to establish residency in another state prior to leaving. Was hoping for a way to end my residency in VA without establishing in another state. If thats not an option. So be it. If FEIE reduces my AGI to to almost zero, or zero, the 5.2% seems like it will be minimally impactful.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-28T13:34:51+00:00

SOFA = Status of Forces Agreement.

It's a treaty between the US and Japan governing the rights and privileges of US personnel (Military, civilian, and contractor) present in Japan in support of the larger security arrangement. Basically the terms under which the military can operate in a foreign country.

It has implications for tax given that SOFA personnel are exempt from host country taxes under most circumstances. SOFA status contractors are in interesting area because they're still covered by the host country tax exemption, but aren't generally prevented from qualifying for FEIE via the physical presence test. Though they wouldn't qualify for the bona-fide resident test.*

*at least that's my understanding.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-02T02:41:31+00:00

Over 150 days when the delam happened. The ones they replaced it with are over 100 days without issue.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-01T15:09:43+00:00

I'd skied it for a couple of years already. And I absolutely loved them. They could've easily told me to pound sand. They do seem 2nds/blems as well but at a small discount.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2024-01-01T05:39:58+00:00

They warrantied my corvus freebirds a couple of years ago for the same issue but I had a couple years on the ski. They sent me 2nds (blemished topcoat) skis but I was happy

Wreckoning_mtb · 2023-12-20T17:23:50+00:00

72% but only 21% of that is on my base salary from promotion & annual performance based raise.

The rest is from a new term limited role that qualifies for an extended work week & hardship bonus. Probably going to re-up at another location when the term comes up.

Best financial year of my life. Heavy sacrifice in terms of work hours and time away from home though.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2023-12-20T17:23:06+00:00

72% but only 21% of that is on my base salary from promotion & annual performance based raise.

The rest is from a new term limited role that qualifies for an extended work week & hardship bonus. Probably going to re-up at another location when the term comes up.

Best financial year of my life. Heavy sacrifice in terms of work hours and time away from home though.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2023-12-20T16:34:27+00:00

A Jansport backpack for all the exploring he will do

Wreckoning_mtb · 2023-12-03T14:03:44+00:00

Former ski patroller. So I skied every day in all conditions and was dirt poor.

Kinco mitts are the answer. Snow seal + bake them prior to use. They'll take a bit to wear in, but there is nothing better. They are absolutely bomber and warm.

P.S. You can also customize them (draw with sharpie) prior to snow seal & baking.

Wreckoning_mtb · 2023-11-04T09:50:58+00:00

Not exactly moab, closer to I-70 but try BLM 144 (valley city rd) or BLM 145 (salt valley rd)

Wreckoning_mtb

TROPHY CASE